September 2004

              PRAYER DIARY 2004 - 2005 

A prayer for each day in the month

1. New members are needed for all Companies in our Battalion. Pray that we may be diligent in our search for them and that they may settle in easily, develop a bond with the other boys, enjoy the BB programme and have a trusting, friendly relationship with their Officers based on mutual respect.

2. Pray that Child Protection guidelines may be fully operative in all Companies and that Companies may be places where boys feel safe from bullying, bad language, harmful habits and may develop, without hindrance, in the Christian faith.

3. That Officers will have compassion for and a desire to help, by seeking guidance in handling, boys who have specific problems of behaviour, infirmity or illness remembering that we are all souls for whom Christ died.

 4. That NCOs, chosen for the right reasons, may set a good example to the younger members of the Company, grow in a desire to assist company work and, where possible, eventually become Officers.

5. Pray for safety for boys who live in areas of our towns and cities where it is not advisable for them to wear uniform when travelling to Parade night and they can be ridiculed for being members of the BB.

 6. Remember Officers and boys in countries where there is antagonism to Christianity. May they be protected and the work and witness be fruitful.

7. Ask God to bless all Captains and acting Captains, that their leadership qualities may grow, and they may be an inspiration to staff and a living example of God to Officers and Boys. Where a Captain is sought, may God direct the Church authorities to the right person.

8. Remember Chaplains in their busy lives. May they, Church Authorities and Captains continually seek God's direction for their Company as part of the mission outreach of the Church.

9. Officers are not exempt from the pressures of this world. Remember those with health, business, finance, relationships, time or other personal problems. 

 10. May Staff Sergeants, NCOs and boys be helped to live by Christian values in a secular society, to become believers and grow stedfast in their faith and zealous in their service for God.

11. Ask for the help of the Holy Spirit in preparation of each Bible Class lesson and that it may be delivered in a meaningful way which all ages can understand.

 12. Sport is used to instil discipline and sportsmanship. May it take place in Company work which has a balanced curriculum and may we always be mindful that we are a Christian and not a secular organisation and that God will be glorified in all we do.

 13. Give thanks to God for those in previous sessions who have committed their lives to Him and for past and present officers who have shown by example their commitment to our object and our great Captain. Pray that more boys will progress through the ranks to become Officers.

14. Pray for the President, Secretary, Chaplain, Treasurer and the other members of the Executive that they may, under God, serve the Battalion to the best of their ability.

15. That God may guide us on how the Battalion may be ever more relevant in the working of our Companies; that the Sections and Committees may have a full quota of committed Office Bearers and continue to work diligently for the good of all members.

16. Young men working for Queen’s badge, President’s badge and Duke of Edinburgh Award may be given strength and wisdom to complete their task and be kept in safety during their expeditions. Their service may be not only an education to self but a blessing to others.

17. Pray that officers may be living examples of the Word of God to the boys, doing nothing to break boys trust in them and, where there is a shortage of staff, that God will lead the Church authorities to suitable persons of His choice.

18. Ask that our Battalion may continue to grow both numerically and spiritually and that, through the Battalion, boys may know they are not part of an isolated Company but part of a large number of Companies seeking to further our Object. That boys may be retained to the maximum age and that programmes for all Sections may be interesting, educational and relative to the appropriate age group.

19. That finance will not be a bar to the effective running of our Companies. Bring these needs before God who can supply all our need that Officers may have more time to concentrate on the BB object.

20.  God will be with the NID Executive and Council as they make policy and financial decisions and give guidance as to the future of Rathmore House.

21. Remember Rev. George McClelland, the new Director for NI, that he will have God’s blessing as he settles in to his new calling and in any change in direction regarding the future of The Boys’ Brigade, either in NI or in any other part of the UK, the aims and object will remain our primary concern.

22. Pray for the Brigade Executive and Council as they make policy decisions; may these all be to the glory of God and the furtherance of our object. That training courses at Rathmore, Felden, Carronvale and throughout the world may be inspirational to all taking part and result in greater enthusiasm for our work among boys.

23. May all BB Officers be disciplined in our lives to set aside time each day to develop our prayer life. ‘More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.’

24. Remember all Companies in the Carrickfergus area of our Battalion - 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th and 8^th Carrickfergus, 1^st Greenisland and 1^st Whitehead. Each Officer, NCO and Boy is important to God and should be committed to His care.

            25. Remember all Companies in the Ballyclare area of our Battalion – 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Ballyclare, 1^st Ballyeaston, 1^st Ballylinney, 1^st Ballynure and 1^st Kilbride. Each Officer, NCO and Boy is important to God and should be committed to His care.

 26. Remember all Companies in the Larne area of our Battalion - 1^st Cairncastle, 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Larne, 1^st Mullaghdubh and 1^st Raloo. Each Officer, NCO and Boy is important to God and should be committed to His care.

 27. Ask for all officers to be given a deeper commitment to Company work, particularly their own Company, each accepting an equitable involvement in activities at local and Battalion levels. That there may always be thorough preparation and wisdom in the methods of presentation.

 28. Pray that The Boys’ Brigade throughout the world may diligently seek the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom amongst boys and the promotion of habits of obedience, reverence, discipline and self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness.

 29. The Boys’ Brigade prayer.

 30. Thank God for the inaugural Company in Togo; growth in Singapore, Tanzania, Bangladesh and Romania and other countries. Pray for a reversal of the downward trend in the UK, Australia, NZ and other countries and that the Global Fellowship will strengthen the BB throughout the world and enable it to gather funding to assist members in poorer countries.

            31. We are in a single identity area. Pray that our Companies may encourage greater mutual understanding and respect for different cultures and traditions thus ensuring that boys may see diversity as part of the richness in our society rather than a source of threat.